Air conditioning apparatus



ug. 24, 1937.. J. H. o'BRlEN 2,090,875

AIR CONDITIONING APPARATUS Filed July 7, 193s 5 sheets-sheet 1 f2QQQQQQQQ/@QQQ/@QQQQQQQQ Aug. 24, 1937. J. H. @BRIEN 2,090,875

AIR CONDITIONING APPARATUS Filed July 7, 1935 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Aug. 24,1937. J. H. oBRlEN 2,090,875

AIR CONDITIONING APPARATUS Filed July 7, 193s s sheets-sheet s lf/O' lil? ORNEY.

Patented Aug. 24,1937

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE AIR CONDITIONING APPARATUS James H. O'Brlen,Chicago, Ill., assignor to American Blower Corporation, Detroit, Mich.,a corporation of Delaware vApplication July 7, 1933, Serial No. 679,294

Claims.

10 frigerant in the form of blocks of ice. While the general features ofthe invention are adapted for use in air cooling units or structurespermanently arranged in fixed position, a specific object of theinvention is to provide a simple and effective portable air cooling unitwhich is adapted for use rst in one and then in another of the rooms ofa dwelling house or apartment as conditions make desirable, and whichmay readily be moved back and forth between the place or places of usego and a convenient place for charging the unit with ice.

More specic objects of the present invention are to provide apparatus ofthe character described by its mechanical simplicity and by its 25comparatively small required bulk for a given cooling effect withexposure of the air to the ice surface ample in extent to cool the airbelow the dew point, and for the reheating of the air before deliveryfrom the apparatus to a temperature 30 above the dew point. Furtherspecific objects of the invention having to do with the operation of theapparatus are the avoidance of operating noise and the avoidance of anynecessity for a cold-water tank and water circulating pump com- 55 monlyprovided in previously proposed air cooling apparatus; provision ofsimple and effective means for regulating the temperature at which theair is delivered with a corresponding ysaving in ice at times when lessthan the maximum cooling 40 effect is required; provisions foreffectively utilizing the heat absorbing capacity of the Water formedfrom the melting ice in precooling the air passing into direct contactwith the ice; provisions for cleansing the air as an incident of i5 theair cooling operation and fory the continuous drainage from theapparatus of the water formed from the melting ice along with condensateformed from the air conditioned and the dirt or foreign mattereliminated from the air in passing 50 through the apparatus whereby thelatter is kept clean and free from odors; and provisions for preventingexternal condensation on and drip from the apparatus. A further objectof the invention is to provide a unit especially adapted 55 for coolingair but also adapted with no change except for the incorporation in itsice space ot humidifying means, for usey during the heating season inhumidifying the air in a dwelling house or apartment.

The various features of novelty which characterize my invention arepointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming partof this specification. For a better understanding of the invention,however, and specific objects and advantages attained with it, referenceshould be had to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter inwhich I have illustrated and described preferred embodiments of thelnunit with its front end wall removed to show its I interiorconstruction;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation in section on the broken line 2 -2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a sectional elevation of an air scrubbing and cooling unit,the section being taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is apartllal plan showing a portion of a water distributingelement;

Fig. 5 is a plan view of the ice supporting frame;

Fig. 6 is a partial elevation taken similarly to Fig. 1, but on a largerscale, illustrating details of the damper adjusting means included inthe apparatus of Figs. 1 and 2;

Figs. 7 and 8 are views similar to Figs. 1 and 2,y respectivelyillustrating a modified form of air conditioning unit; and

Fig. 9 is a partial section on line 9 9 of Fig. 8 illustratinghumidifying means which may be used under some conditions with eitherform of air conditioning unit illustrated.

The air conditioning unit in the form shown in Figs. 1-6 of thedrawings, comprises a housing A of generally rectangular outline. 'I'hewhole lower portion of the housing interior forms an air inlet chamberA' receiving room air tobe conditioned through an inlet opening shown asformed in the lower front wall of the housing and across which asuitable screen or. grill A2 extends. From the inlet chamber A the airto be conditioned is passed upward as hereinafter described, through theportion of the housing between the partition A3 forming the top wall ofthe chamber A' and a. superposed ice supporting frame A4 located somedistance above the partition A3. The frame A4 is in the form of a gridand is located at the bottom of the ice receiving chamber A5 and an airpassage .A6 which forms a by-pass about the ice chamber A* and isseparated from the latter by a vertically disposed partition A". Abovethe chambers As and Ae is an air mixing chamber A.a from which theconditioned air passes out of the apparatus through an outlet in the topwall of the latter across which extends a grill A. 'I'he relativeamounts of air passing through the chambers A5 and A and mixing in thechamber A are determined by the adjustment of a damper mechanismhereinafter described and shown as including louvre damper blades B andBA.

As shown the housing A is made portable by providing it with supportingwheels A10. The bottom wall A11 of the chamber A is located somewhatabove the floor level and prevents the passage of flow of dust into thechamber A', and, as shown, is recessed at A111 to provide clearance forthe wheels A10. At the side of the ice chamber A5 opposite the partitionA", the housing A is provided with a section A12 readily removable topermit the insertion of ice. .Preferably the removable section A12extends downward far enough to permit the ready removal and reinsertionof the hereinafter described scrubbing tray F.

The housing Wall may be made in various ways and of various materialsand the general details of its construction form no part of the presentinvention. It is noted, however, that ordinarily I contemplate theformation of the housing with a metallic framework and walls of suitablestrength and rigidity. While heat radiation losses from the housing wallare of relatively small direct importance, I regard it as practicallyimportant to provide the upper portion of the housing with a heatinsulating jacket or cover A13 effective to prevent Water fromcondensing out of the surrounding atmosphere onto the housing with aresultant risk of injurious or annoying water drip from the housing.

The size and air conditioning capacity of the apparatus enclosed by thehousing A obviously may vary in accordance with the conditions of use.In general, I consider it desirable to proportion the ice receivingchamber A with reference to a standard size of artiiicial ice cakeswhich may be split up to form the ice blocks of a size and formpermitting them to be so spaced in the chamber A5 as to provide suitablepassage for upiiow of air in contact with all four vertical sides ofeach block. Ordinarily artificial ice cakes are initially 11 inchesthick, 22 inches wide and either 44 or 54 inches long. While as beforeindicated, the housing dimensions may vary widely with conditions ofuse, I note, for purposes of illustration, and not by way of limitation,that aparatus of the particular form shown in the drawings and intendedfor use in conditioning the air in ordinary dwelling rooms, may wellhave'an ice chamber relatively -proportioned generally as shown andhaving its longer horizontal dimension either four feet and two inchesor ilve feet, depending on whether intended for use with ice cakes ofthe larger or of the smaller standard size mentioned above.

To move the air to be conditioned in suitable volume through thehousing, I employ one or more circulating fans D. In the particular formof construction shown in Figs. 1 and 2 of thev drawings, there'are twofans D each having its rotor directly connected to the armature shaft ofa driving motor d, and all located within the inlet chamber A. Thecasing of each fan is formed with a central inlet opening D' at on? orpreferably at both of its sides. 'Ihe outlet Da oi each casing', whichis shown as of the usual involute form, extends upward and opens to thespace above the partition A:i through a correlsponding aperture in thelatter. As shown a motor starter box da is attached to the rear wall ofthe housing, and is provided with a socket part da' for the attachmentof cord conductors, not shown, which may be employed to energize theapparatus from any available outlet. f

As shown a water distributor E, a scrubber F and a water eliminator Gare located in the space between the partition A3 and the ice supportingframe A4, the scrubber F being` above the eliminator G and below thedistributor E. The distributor E is advantageously in the form of ahorizontal metal plate formed with a multiplicity of apertures Esurrounded each by a horizontal uprising flange E2 so that waterdripping down from the ice chamber and not falling directly through theapertures E', will collect on the upper side of the distributor and flowin film form over anges E2 and thence downwardly through the aperturesE' over the entire surface in a.

direction counter to the upflow of air through said apertures.

The scrubber F is shown as comprising a shallow tray or box open at itstop and having a perforated or screen bottom and lled with suitablewater distributing material f. The material f may advantageously be ironoxide, aluminum oxide, quartz or other material insoluble in Water andpresenting a rough surface when broken up into suitable small pieces,and preferably having a fine porous structure. The material mayadvantageously be broken up so that most of the particles are just smallenough to pass through a. screen of one-quarter inch mesh. 'Ihe scrubberF forms a porous screen in passing through which the ascending air andthe descending water are brought into intimate contact so that the waterwill give up practically all of its available heat to the air passingthrough the scrubber which thus serves as an eillcient pre-cooler forthe air.

The water eliminator G serves to collect all of the water dripping downthrough the perforated bottom of the `rscrubber F. As shown theeliminator G is formed by a series of inclined bars or plates extendingfrom one end to the other of the housing and inclined to the horizontalso that adjacent water defiecting bars overlap. As shown, each bar orplate is formed with a downturned flange G at its upper edge and with anupturned flange G2 at its lower edge. Each flange G2 with the body ofthe plate from which it projects, forms a gutter leading to a watercollecting troughY H at one end of the housing. To insure the properflow through said gutters, the individual bars of the eliminator G areall longitudinally inclined to the horizontal and have their lower endsabove the trough H, the ilanges G-2 being cut away above the trough H tofacilitate the discharge of water into the latter. A drainage pipe l1.leads down; ward from the trough H to some suitable receptacle orconduit receiving the drainage.

Advantageously, and as shown, the conduit h, which may well be a pieceof hose or other form of flexible conduit, is provided at its lower endwith a union fitting h for attachment to an elbow tting I at the end ofa branch I from theA drain or return pipe I2 of the steam or hot waterheating radiator in the room in which the conditioning apparatus islocated. The branch pipe is shown as provided with 'a cut-oi! Yvalve I3,which may be'closed during the heating season, and with a non-returnvalve I4.

Immediately below and extending across the upper air outlet at which thegrill A is located, I advantageously place a water eliminator g whichmay be exactly similar in constructionv to the previously describedeliminator G, except that the bars of the eliminator g need not lbelongitudinally inclined to the horizontal and may discharge any watercollecting in their lower trough portions at the ends oi' the latterdirectly into the end portions of the ice chamber A5.

'I'he previously mentioned louvre damper comprising the damper members Band BA, extends horizontally across the housing at the bottom, of theair mixing chamber A', and serves as a means for varying the relativeamounts of air passing into the chamber Al from the ice cham.- ber A5and from the by-pass channel A5, respectively.. As shown the dampermembers B and BA are in the form of at vanes provided with trunnionextensions 4at each end which are journalled in a support B secured tothe housing for the purpose. Advantageously, the different vanes areconnected for similar turning movements about their trunnion axes. Tothis end, as shown, each of the vanes is provided at one end with acrank arm portion B2 pivotally connected to a floating bar B3. When thedamper as a whole is in its neutral position, the vanes B which areabove the channel A5 are inclined in one direction to the horizontal-andthe vanes BA above the ice chamber A5 are inclined in the oppositedirection to the horizontal. In consequence when the floating bar B3 ismoved to the left, as seen in Figs. 1 and 6, the damper bars B approachthe vertical and reduce their throttling effect on the passage A, whilethe bars BA are then 40 moved into a more horizontal position and exertan increased throttling effect on the upflow of air to the ice chamber.Conversely, when the iioating bar B3 is moved to the right from theposition shown in Figs. 1 and 6, the throt- 45 tling eiect of the vanesB is increased, and the throttling effect of the vanes BA is increased.

While the damper vanes B and BA may be manually adjusted, Iadvantageously provide means for automatically adjusting them to therebyvary the cooling eiect on the air conditioned in automatic response tothe need for the air cooling effect. To this end, in the formdiagrammatically illustrated, the adjustment of the damper vanes iscontrolled by a thermostat J located in the inlet chamber A andresponsive to the temperature of the room air entering and passingthrough that chamber. As those skilled in the art will understand,various forms of thermostatic control devices and mechanism throughwhich the control device proper effects the adjustment of the damper areknown and may be made use of for the purposes of the present invention.As diagrammatically illustrated, Athe thermostat J is employed tocontrol the passage of energizing current from the motor starting box dathrough conductors in a conduit K and thence through conductors in aconduit L running from the device J to an electromagnetic relay motor Mfor operating the damper. As shown the relay device M is in the form ofan electromagnet comprising a sectionally wound winding and a solenoidarmature M adjusted to different vertical positions according to themanner in which the winding is energized through the action of thethermostat J. The armature M has its stem connected by a pin vand slotconnection to an arm B4 carried 4by the adja cent damper bar B. Inconsequence, as the core M' is raised from the neutral position shown inFig. 6, it gives a closing adjustment to the damper members B and anopening adjustment to the damper members BA, reverse adjustments of thetwo sets of damper bars being affected when the core M' is lowered.

In operation the room air entering the inlet chamber A and passed fromthe latter by the fans D, flows upwardly through the space between thebars of the water eliminator G, thence through the scrubber F and theapertures E' in the water distributor plate E, and thence upwardlynormally in part through the channel A6 and in part through the icechamber A5, the relative amounts of air passing through the channel A5and ice chamber A5 depending on the adjustment of the damper blades Band BA.

As the air passes upward through the ice chamber A5 it is substantiallyreduced in temperature and is given a correspondingly low dew point andwhen it leaves the chamber A5 at the top, it

can have admixed with it only the relatively J small amount o! vaporcorresponding to the dew point of the air at its low temperature.

In consequence if all of the air conditioned were passed from thechamber A5 directly out into the room, the relatively low absolutehumidity of the air leaving the conditioning apparatus would lower therelative humidity in the room, unless that humidity were less than itnormally is at the times at which the greatest need for air cooling orthe air cooling action is experienced. Under normal conditions ofoperation', a portion only of the air passing through the conditioningapparatus will pass through the ice chamber A5 into the mixing chamberA8. The remainder of the air then entering the mixing chamber throughthe by-pass channel A6 will enter the mixing chamber at a highertemperature and normally with a higher absolute humidity. The airmixture formed in the chamber As will then have a temperatureintermediate the temperature at which the air enters the chamber fromthe chamber A5 and from the by-pass A5 and the relative humidity of themixture will be less than the maximum for the mixture temperature, eventhough it be assumed that the relative humidity of each portion of theair entering the mixing chamber is at a maximum.

In the` passage of the air upward from the inlet chamber A into thebottom of the ice chamber A5 and by-pass channel A5, the air issubjected to an elicient cooling action utilizing substantially all ofthe available heat absorbing capacity of the ice water formed in the icechamber and distributed by the distributor E and scrubber F. Thetendency of the air to become saturated in passing through the scrubberis minimized to some extent by the moisture absorbing capacity of thescrubber material f when the latter is formed of materials such as thosespecified above containing capillary pullers. This moisture absorbingcapacity of the material f depends upon the dryness of the air withinthe capillary pores or lower vapor pressure of the latter and isvitiated as by the accumulation of moisture in such pores. The moistureabsorbing capacity of the material f can be regenerated from time totime, however, by exposing the material to Contact with suitably dryair, and more rapidly by a moderate heating action due to the action ofthe sun's rays oradvantag'eously, in some instances, by heating thematerial over a. kitchen stove. The drying and heating of the material ffrom time toltime also has the ad- 5 vantage of sterilizing andveiectually eliminating any tendency of the scrubber material to giveobjectionable odors to the air passing through it.

The portable character of the conditioning unit obviously facilitatesits effective use. For example, in an ordinary dwelling house orhousekeeping apartment, the unit may be located in the dining room whenmeals are being served and at other times may be located in the livingroom or other room which it is especially desirable to cool.Furthermore, the portability of the unit makes it readily possible tomove the unit onto a porch or into a kitchen or pantry whenever itbecomes necessary to recharge the unit with ice.

In Figs. 7 and 8 of the drawings, I have illustrated an air conditioningunit generally similar in character to that previously described, butdesirably simpler in some respects. In large part, the unit shown inFigs. 7 and 8 consists of parts .25 similar to corresponding parts inthe construction fer of the fans D and motor d from their lower locationillustrated in Figs. 1 and 2, into the mixing chamber A3 of Figs. 7 and8. To receive the fans D and motor, the mixing chamber A3 of Figs. 7 and8 is enlarged in the vertical direction. This does not require anyincrease in height of a unit of different capacity, however, as with theconstruction shown in Figs. 7 and 8, the height of the portion of theunit below the scrubber F may Well be reduced as much as or more thanthe height of the chamber A8 is increased. The reduction in height ofthe portion of the apparatus below the scrubber F in the constructionshown in Figs. 7 and 8 is made possible not only by the transfer of thefans D and motor d to their upper location, but also because there is noneed in the unit of Figs. '7 and 8 for the eliminator G or partition A3of the construction shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

In Figs. 7 and 8 the water dripping from the scrubber F collects in thelower portion of the air inlet chamber A', which extends uninterruptedlyupward to the scrubber F, the latter forming a pervious roof for thechamber A. In Figs. 1 and 8 the fans D and motor d are suspended from aplate A30 generally similar to the plate A3 of Figs. l and 2, and which,as shown, is spaced to provide a small air outlet chamber A80 above themixing chamber A3, and between it and the discharge outlet opening overwhich the grill A9 extends. In Figs. 7 and 8, no provisions are shownfor the discharge of any water dripping onto the partition plate A30from the water eliminator g, as the water which will so drip on theplate A30 at any time is relatively small and insignificant in amount,and will eventually be evaporated and passed out of the apparatus withthe air discharged through the openings in the grill A9.

Notwithstanding its simpler construction, the general operation of theair conditioning unit shown in Figs. 7 and 8 is like that of the unitrst described, and is characterized by the same general advantages.

Either form of conditioning unit illustrated is adapted for use as aroom humidifier during the heating season without any change whatever'inthe apparatus other than the substitution for the ice in the refrigerantcompartment, of means for 5 supplying water for humidifying purposes tothe water distributor E. 'I'he humidifying water supply means may be ofany suitable form; such for example as that illustrated in deta in Fig.9, which is adapted for mounting on the ice sup- 10 porting frame A4.

The water supply means may be of any suitable form, but I regard thearrangement illustrated in Fig. 9 as especially desirable for thepurpose. That arrangement comprises a supply l5 tank O which is locatedin the ice compartment of the apparatus and supported on the frame A*when humidiflcation is desired and may. be removed from said compartmentwhen the latter contains ice as at such times no need exists for 20 aspecial air humidiiication effect. The tank O is provided withsupporting legs O and an outlet pipe 'O2 which, as shown, supplies waterto a oat tank E3. The latter, conveniently and as shown, is in the formof a depression in an unperforated 25 distributor plate E. When the tankE3 is filled with Water to the proper level, the water overflows fromthe tank onto the plate E. A float E resting on the water in the tank E3is connected to and serves to close a cut-off valve P in the dis- 30charge pipe O2 when necessary to prevent the water level from risingabove the tops of the anges E2 so as to create an objectionable flow ofwater through the perforations or openings O in the plate E. 4'I'henormal rate of discharge of 35 water into the float tank E3 from thesupply tank O may advantageously be regulated by a solenoid valve Qcontrolled by a humidostat (not shown) which may be of any usual orsuitable type adapted to open and close the valve Q as room humidity 40falls below or increases above the desired amount. The describedhumidifying means is thus elective, when humidication of the roomatmosphere is desirable, to maintain a thin layer of Water on the plateE which is of such considerable hori- 45 zontal extent that the airmoved through the apparatus may evaporate suiiicient water' to insurethe desired humidication effect.

While in accordance with the provisions of the statutes, I haveillustrated and described 50 the best form of embodiment of my inventionnow known to me, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art thatchanges may be made in the form of the apparatus disclosed withoutdeparting from the spirit of my invention as set 55 forth in theappended claims and that in some cases certain features of my inventionmay be used to advantage without a corresponding use of other features.

Having now described my invention what I 60 claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is:

1. Apparatus adapted for use within a dwelling room to condition the airtherein comprising a housing enclosing a compartment, a by-pass` 65about said compartment, a mixing chamber receiving air from saidcompartment and-said bypass and an outlet from said chamber, means foreffecting contact of the air passing to said bypass and to saidcompartment with ice water drip 70 from the latter, and means extendingacross said outlet for arresting and retaining entrained water in theair passing from said chamber through said outlet.

2. Apparatus for conditioning air comprising a 75 aoeds'nsv 10 wardthrough the scrubber and thence upward partly through the containingchamber and partly through the by-pass into said outlet chamber.

3. Apparatus for conditioning air'comprising a housing having an upperoutlet chamber, an ice 15 containing chamber beneath the first mentionedchamber, a by-pass for air about said ice containing chambercommunicating at its upper end with said outlet chamber, a scrubberbeneath said by-pass and ice containing chamber, means for distributingthe ice water drip from said ice containing chamber onto said scrubber,means for moving the air to be conditioned upward through the scrubberand thence upward partly through the containing chamber and partlythrough the 25 by-pass into said outlet chamber, and means below saidscrubber for collecting water passing through said scrubber.

`4. A portable air conditioning unit comprising a housing enclosing anice receiving compart- 30 ment, means for drawing air into said housingand passing it through the said compartment and thence out of thehousing, and means for collecting the ice water drip from compartmentand discharging it from said housing, said last mentioned meansincluding a` radiator return pipe having a valved inlet part, a flexibledischarge pipe having its inlet end connected to said housing and havingmeans at its discharge end for attachment to said inlet part.

5. A portable air conditioning unit comprising a housing enclosing anice receiving compartment, and a scrubber beneath said compartmentreceiving the ice water drip from the latter, said scrubber comprising atray with a pervious bottom and a pervious layer of material supportedon said bottom and said housing having a portion of one side wallremovable to permit the insertion and removal of said tray and for thecharging of saidccmpartment with ice.

6. In combination, a housing enclosing an airy conditioning compartment,means for moving air into said housing and through said compartment andthence out of the housing, means for eiecting contact of the air passingto said compartment with water including a perforated element extendingacross the path of ai'r flow beneath said compartment, and means formaintaining water on said element.

'1. In combination, a housing enclosing an air 60 conditioningcompartment, means for moving air into said housing and through saidcompartment and thence out of the housing, means for effecting contactof the air passing to said compartment with water including an elementextending across the path of air flow beneath said compartment andformed with distributed apertures and uprising flanges surrounding saidapertures, and means for maintaining a shallow body of water on saidelement.

8. In combination, a housing enclosing an air conditioning compartment,means for moving air into said housing and through said compartment andthence outof the housing, means for effecting contact of the air passingto said compartment with water including an element extending across thepath of air flow beneath said compartment and formed with distributedapertures and with a depression adapted to serve as a oat tank, andmeans for passingwater onto said element, said means comprising a watercontainer adapted to be inserted in and removed from said compartment, avalve controlling the discharge of water from said container into saidtank and a oat in said tank opening and closing said valve as the waterlevel in said tank falls and rises.

9. Air conditioning apparatus comprising in combination a casing formedwith an inlet chamber, an outlet chamber, an ice containing chamv berproviding a path for the iiow of air from said inlet chamber to saidoutlet chamber in which the air passing to the outlet chamber along saidpath is substantially saturated with water Vapor, and a by-pass aboutsaid ice containing chamber for the passage of air from said inletchamber to said outlet chamber, and means for regulating the relativeamounts of air passing from the inlet chamber to the outlet chamberthrough said ice containing chamber and by-pass, respective- 1y, inautomatic response to the temperature of the air passing through saidinlet chamber.

10. Apparatus adapted for use Within a dwelling room, to condition theair therein, comprising a housing having an air inlet and an air outletand enclosing an outlet chamber communicating with said outlet, acompartment adapted to receive ice and providing a flow path to saidoutlet

